Research on anxiety

Hi blog! So, for today's blog post, I have decided to do some research on anxiety as it is a very real thing, and I want to make sure that the character is portrayed realistically while still being respectful!!

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To begin with, what is anxiety?

According to, Anxiety.org "Anxiety is a physiological and psychological response that occurs when the mind and body encounter stressful, dangerous, or unfamiliar situations. It manifests as a feeling of discomfort, distress, or apprehension before a significant event." While anxiety is mostly common, people with anxiety disorders experience these feelings not only more often, but also more intensely. According to What is anxiety disorder? and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, a common type is Generalized Anxiety disorder, and it is where a person constantly is worrying about everyday situations. Another common type is Social Anxiety Disorder, which is when someone feels extreme fear of being judged in social situations. One more type is called panic disorder which involves sudden panic attacks.

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I also need to know the basic psychological and physical symptoms so when I am creating my character, I can make sure to portray anxiety correctly.

Psychological symptoms:

• Feeling overwhelmed easily
• Constant worrying (overthinking)
• Difficult time concentrating
• Fear of social situations
• Idea that something bad will happen

Physical symptoms:

• Sweating
• Shaking
• Fast heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Feeling dizzy

Symptoms & Causes

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Now, because the character that will be having anxiety is going to be a teenager, I need to do specific research on anxiety in teenagers because it could be very different from anxiety in adults.

Anxiety in teenagers:

According to GAD in children & teens, anxiety is very common among teenagers because adolescence is a time when people experience social expectations, academic pressure, and identity development. School environments are known to increase anxiety because of pressure to succeed socially and academically.

Teenagers with anxiety often avoid speaking in class, isolate themselves from friends, heavily fear of being judged or embarrassed, and overthink conversations.